Dubai: As summer is here, Dubai residents continue to book holidays abroad despite international uncertainty, say travel agents.
The United States and Europe remain popular travel destinations for those looking to escape the summer heat despite a string of incidents in the recent months across the globe.
While demand remains strong, agents said incidents such as the latest airport attack in Istanbul resulted in cancellations by travellers who rerouted holiday plans through other airports.
Samer Ascha, general manager at Skyline Travel Tourism, said residents’ travel priorities are countries that offer a higher degree of safety amid some uncertainty abroad.
“Residents want for a holiday that is safe,” Ascha said. “Safety is the number one thing. Last year, it was about price. This year, people want peace of mind when they travel abroad.”
Ascha said his agency has seen a “60 per cent increase in requests to go to the United States, they’re going as families”.
In addition to steady requests for the UK and Germany, Malaysia is also topping traveller requests from Dubai given that “it is less expensive. Malaysia is still a good destination for more conservative people”.
Shorter trips are also in demand to Cairo and Thailand, Ascha said.
Maheen Mohammad, general manager of Nasser Air Travel and Shipping Agencies, said, “Europe is still the preferred destination despite what is happening. It’s become more of a multi-destination holiday through France, Italy and then Germany.”
“The bookings for this year … have been slower than those compared to last year, especially from the locals” who, because they now do not need (prior) visas to many places, are booking later than before. “Also in Europe, most of them have holiday homes,” she said.
Other popular destinations for summer holiday bookings this year include Georgia, Russia, Malaysia as well as travel by cruise ships, she said.
“Mediterranean cruises are much sought after this year — people now have realised value for money, as I often put it. You don’t have to check in or out of hotels in different places, the hotel travels with you. Personally this is my favourite holiday to take,” Mohammad said.
Traditional holidays to home countries by expats to visit friends and families also remain steady, she said.
Meanwhile, the latest global passenger statistics issued by International Air Transport Association (IATA) for May suggested demand for air travel from the Middle East not only remained strong, but had increased.
“Middle East carriers revealed an 11.8 per cent rise in demand in May compared to a year ago, which was the largest increase among regions. Capacity increased 15.6 per cent, however, and the load factor dropped 2.4 percentage points to 71.9 per cent,” said IATA in its latest update.
Special alert issued
In the wake of protests in the United States, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington recently issued a special alert for citizens urging travellers “to please stay away from any ongoing or planned demonstrations and protests in cities around the United States and elsewhere. Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible. Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe”.
Meanwhile, residents who will be travelling outside the UAE during the summer should visit a doctor two weeks before they leave and get the recommended vaccines, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) has urged.
In a statement sent by the emirate’s health sector regulator, the Haad said such steps would safeguard traveller’s health, as well as limit the spread of infectious diseases in the country.
The list of vaccinations recommended before travel varies based on which country the resident intends to visit, the communicable diseases that are endemic there, and the travellers’ current state of health. Some of the most common diseases against which protection can be sought include meningitis, influenza, hepatitis A, typhoid and pneumonia.
